Skip to main content

Maverick Ad

Home

Main navigation

  • Home
  • Cover Stories
  • Features
  • News
  • Reviews
  • Cashbox Legacy Awards
  • Past Covers
  • Weekly Archive
Christmas It's About the Presence Not The Presents

Breadcrumb

  • Home
  • Christmas It's About the Presence Not The Presents
Christmas It's About the Presence Not The Presents
Fri Dec 21, 2018
Don Graham

Memories are the mind’s way of reliving magical moments of the past. You can almost feel like you’re right back in that moment, the people, the sights, the smell, and the feel can be very real. And no memory is more vivid to me than my memories of Christmas’ past. I guess it’s because Christmas had so many layers for me, and still does.

As a kid, of course, it was that anticipation of gifts, the kind you were told “wait ‘til Christmas” for. But the layers included food, family and an overpowering feeling of love and belonging to something very special;  my family. But I think the greatest gift of all is that until she passed away, I got to spend 55 Christmases with my Mum. No matter the situation or where I was I always found my compass pointing to Montreal and home. There were times the timing was difficult and involved icy roads, airports, and crowded trains but always I found myself at Mum’s table for Christmas dinner. And I guess the most poignant was her last Christmas on this planet. We were so fortunate that we were all together that Christmas of 2000, myself, Sandy and her two amazing sons, Graham and Ian. We weren’t positive that would be her last but we had an inclination. What a blessing to have the joy of that day as an indelible memory.

And now Sandy has picked up the mantle of Christmas tradition and so on December 25th the closest I can get to Mum’s love of the season is sister Sandy’s beautifully decorated home, complete with a retro tree and decorations and warmth and love. And the bonus is the Christmas meal is served on Mum and Dad’s old dining room table complete with the gold cutlery that she was so very proud to have.

So I would like to wish all my friends and associates a very Merry Christmas and remember, it’s not the presents it’s the presence.

Features
Music
Month: May 2025
Cashbox Canada Announces New Column – Picture This! With Tracey Savein May 09
SING! Music Summit Presents a Unique Opportunity to Connect with the Experts of… May 09
First Video Episode Released For Rise And Thrive, Showcasing Real-Life… May 09
TORONTO MUSIC EXPERIENCE PLANS TO OPEN AS A PERMANENT CELEBRATION OF THE… May 09
Attention all Collectors and Aesthetically Attuned Beings! May 02
TORONTO’S 2025 LULAWORLD FESTIVAL CELEBRATES 12 DAYS OF WORLD MUSIC MAGIC May 02
Picture This! With Tracey Savein May 02
Emma Rush Illuminates 19th-Century Guitar Pioneer With “The Life and Times… May 02
Séan McCann Announces “The Great Big Canadian Road Trip" - One Man. One… May 02
Month: Apr 2025
“The New Immersive Van Gogh: Next Chapter” runs to September 1st, 2025 at The… Apr 25
The Tragically Hip Top Forty Countdown Celebrates Ron MacLean Appearance… Apr 25
“Picture This!” with Tracey Savein Apr 25
New Toronto Jazz Festival Shines Spotlight on Local Legends and Rising Stars Apr 25
SING! THE TORONTO INTERNATIONAL VOCAL ARTS FESTIVAL RETURNS MAY 24 TO JUNE 2 Apr 25
SOCAN Foundation’s Executive Director Charlie Wall-Andrews Receives Recognition… Apr 11
2x JUNO-Nominated Children's Music Performer Rosalie Moscoe Returns… Apr 11
Pat Silver Inducted into the 2025 FEO Hall of Fame Apr 11
Terry Gomes Offers Up New Album With “Some Chunes” Apr 11
Get Ready, Toronto - Welcome to Hipsville is BACK! June 14, 2025 Apr 07
Birdsong Artist Terry Witzu Releases New Single “Crying Is Creepy” Apr 04

Pagination

  • Current page 1
  • Page 2
  • Page 3
  • Page 4
  • Page 5
  • Page 6
  • Page 7
  • Page 8
  • Page 9
  • …
  • Next page Next ›
  • Last page Last »

CEO/PUBLISHER/EDITOR IN CHIEF
SANDY GRAHAM

email:sandygrahamemg@gmail.com 

Canadian Journalists:

Contributing Journalist - Canada and Global
Don Graham
email: dongrahamwriter@gmail.com

Contributing Journalist - Canada and Global
Lisa Hartt
email: lisahartt87@hotmail.com

Contributing Journalist - Canada 
Michael Williams
email: greydread@gmail.com

 

 

 

 

International Journalists:

Contributing Journalist - Sweden
Malin Osth
email: malin@musicdays.se

Contributing Journalist - Sweden
Jonas Tancred
email: jonas@musicdays.se

Contributing Journalist - USA
Rob Durkee 
email: rockster2746@gmail.com

 

 

 

 

 

 

Web Developer/Technical Support
Chris Wardman

email: info@chriswardman.com
website: chriswardman.com

Cashbox Cover Design and Graphic Artist
Jain McMillan

email: jainmcmillan@gmail.com

Contributing Photographer 
Tracey Savein - South Paw Productions
southpawproductions@rogers.com

 

 

 

Footer menu

  • Home
  • Features
  • News
  • Reviews
  • Cashbox Archive
  • Issue Archive
  • Past Covers